Wire fence



(No Model.)

"0. S. BENTLEY.

N. PETERS. Plwia-Lilmgmpiwr. Wnshmgkm. n. (L

WIRE FENCE.

Patented June 24, 1884.

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C/mrks 32m thereof.

ATENT Eric a.

CHARLES S. BENTLEY, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,940, dated June 24, 1884.

Application filed October 10, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. BENTLEY, of Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in WVire Fences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in wire fences and its object, especially, is to provide an attachment which, while it will act as a brace or support to the fence, will also serve to indicate to cattle the presence of the fence, and prevent them from running inadvertently against the barbs.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a fence. Fig. 2 is a separate view of a single twist of wire, showing means for securing my improved cross -braces. Fig. 3 is a separate view of the spiral anchor. Fig. 4 is a modification A A represent ordinary vertical posts, between which are stretched the twisted wires B B, such wires either passing through holes bored in the post or through staples secured thereto. The wires are provided with the ordinary or any desired kind of metallic barb, the fence thus far being of the ordinary construction.

In order to brace the wires and connect them rigidly together, and at the same time render the fence more distinguishable from a distance, I use the metallic cross -braces 0. These braces consist each of a single strip of sheet metal of such length that it may be bent at each end around one of the wire run- 11ers.

, By means of a suitable punch a tongue, a, is formed in the metal at each end, and when the ends have been bent around the strands this tongue is passed through a hole punched in the adjoining face of the metal and bent down and compressed, as shown in Fig. 2. Any number of these fasteners may be secured between any two posts either in a vertical'position and alternately or diagonally, as shown in Fig. 1.

Since this fence is without other support than is given it by the posts, no additional braces being used, I employ the device illustrated separately in Fig. 3. This consists of a metallic rod twisted at one end into spiral or corkscrew shape, and having at the other end a hook. It is screwed into the ground a sufficient distance, and the hook engaged with the lower strands of the fence, as shown. One of these anchors is generally attached midway between each pair of posts; and it is evident that since the'strands are all tied together by the cross-pieces before described the tension of all that portion of the fence may be regulated by screwing the anchor deeper into the ground-a result which of course would not be reached were the strands independent and disconnected. 1

The advantages of my device consist, principally, in the increased strength and rigidity they give to the fence, and also in the fact that these cross-pieces serve as a plain indi- 7o cator to cattle of the presence of the fence where the single runners of wire might 'be' unnoticed until the cattle were upon it.

In Fig. A is shown another form of anchor for strengthening the panel, which consists of a shank having a spiral twist formed in its lower end, and provided with a square upper end which receives a lever, E, having a similarly squared hole by which it may be turned into the ground. The shank is perforated near its upper end, and when in position below the panel is'connected to the lower strands of wire by a cord or another wire. Any number of thesedevices may be used, the wrench or handle of course being removable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A wire fence composed of posts A A and wire runners B B, slotted strips 0, connecting adjacent runners, the ends of each strip being provided with a tongue, a, which e11- ters the slot, and thereby locks the strip in place on the runners, and a spiral anchor secured directly to one of the runners of the fence and embedded in the ground, whereby I the tension of all the runners of the fence may be regulated, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name 100 to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OHARLES S. BENTLEY.

XVitnesses:

ALEX SIMrLo'r, NATHAN E. U'r'r. 

